Tourism: It’s more fun in the Philippines
INDEED there is a huge opportunity for our tourism industry to develop and expand without destroying our heritage and the natural beauty of our country. Reports have it that some 3.92 million tourists visited the Philippines in 2011 surpassing the government’s target of 3.7 million.
I witnessed the wonderful Kasadyahan and Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo. Wow!Such display of talents, creativity, forbearance, hard work, innovation, patience, fun and humor and everything else beautiful and positive. The presentations were awesome. The audience was appreciative.
The presenting teams designed and made their own costumes, sets, props, paraphernalias, everything they used for the presentations. They were colorful and “modern” and made from shells, tetrapak, jute bags, grass, styrofoam, plywood, beads and many other ordinary local materials. Awesome!
They brought their own makeshift bands of homemade percussion and wind instruments from ordinary materials like drums, G.I. sheets, tubings and others. They were transported in makeshift trolleys and rollers. And they make fantastic dance music. It is worth mentioning that many business organizations showed support by way of financial assistance and others. Awesome!
Clearly they worked as a team toward a clear purpose and goals, each one with clear roles, there’s lots of cooperation, communication, friendly banters, participation and style diversity. They also practiced listening, civilizeddisagreements, consensus decisions, shared leadership and self-assessement.Awesome!
They were clearly competitive and they gave everything they had while performing under the heat of the noon sun and blistering hot concrete street. While those not dancing or moving the sets motivated and supported them. After their presentation, they immediately collected their wares, cleaned up and moved on happily. Awesome!
I am very happy to have witnessed their presentations close up. And there are a lot more to witness according to http: www.philippinecountry.com/festivals.html:
For February: Hot Air Baloon. Feast of Our Lady of Candles, Festival of Hearts, Pamulinawen, San Antonio, La Union Festival, Tinagba, International Bamboo Festival, Tawo-tawo, Dia de Zamboanga. Panagbenga, Santiago City Arts, Sambalilo, Suman Festival, Kalilangan, Itik-itik and Sibug-sibug.
And from January to December, we have colorful barangay, town and city fiestas honoring their favorite religious figure.
We have lots to offer the world by way of entertainment and vacation.
So why aren’t we getting those foreign tourists to come and enjoy with us? I noticed that there were very few foreigner-tourists present compared to theregular foreigners we normally bump into in Makati or Malate.
So what could be done to propagate this beautiful idea that, indeed, it is more fun in the Philippines? What should our Department of Tourism and other government systems do? What should we, as a community and as individuals do? Many economies are supported by income from tourism with less offerings as we have.
Let’s make our country real fun by showcasing our natural talents, national heritage, the natural beauty of our country and our uniqueness.
